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The Centre for Suicide Research investigates the extent, nature and causes of self-harm and suicide, with the aim of translating the findings into implications for prevention, treatment and support.

Image of a crowd of people

Led by Professor Seena Fazel, the Centre for Suicide Research in the Department of Psychiatry, investigates the extent, nature and causes of self-harm and suicide, with the aim of translating the findings into implications for prevention, treatment and support.

On World Suicide Prevention Day, see below a summary of some of our recent published research and activities.

Ligature-related deaths in prison

A new report on the epidemiology and prevention of ligature-related deaths in prison has been published by the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAPDC). Professor Fazel is an expert member of the panel and DPhil student Rachel Chow co-authored the report. They analysed 25 years of mortality data to examine associations and trends, and a scoping review of the international evidence.

Suicide risk in primary care

In a study led by UCL, Professor Fazel was part of a team looking at suicide risk in primary care, an area often overlooked in suicide research (which typically focuses on people identified by specialist services). They followed up 1.4 million people diagnosed with common mental disorders over 20 years. Published in eClinicalMedicine, the findings highlight that the one-size-fits-all approach to suicide risk assessment is not evidence-based, and that there were clear differences by age, sex at birth and primary care diagnosis.

 

Read the full story on the Department of Psychiatry website.